Aaron asks:
And I'm very interested in Bob's
experiments with Bee Quick and Sucracide.  Can you tell us more Bob?

I was asked by Jerry Hayes before he left Dadant to expierment with
Sucracide application. I do these things for the betterment of beekeeping
and not for pay although the products for testing are shipped to me free of
charge. I always provide honest evaluations so maker beware when asking me
to test a product.

I believe both Bee Quick & sucracide useful tools for the beekeeper due to
their being safe for the beekeeper and honey.

I would ask for improvements in the way they work or are used rather than
saying the above products do not work.
Both products  do work but have got limitations (as do acid boards) and
beekeepers need to understand those limitations.

Reason I approached Jim to use the formula which was dropped because of
running bees out the entrance.

Running all the bees out of the hive (yes queen included) onto a special
board is the idea. Then wetting the bees down  instead of removing each
frame a frame at a time.

We have done testing with acid boards with success but feel we need a safer
product to use and Jim concented to work with us.

The first application would come when the last super was removed in fall.
Simply leave the fume board on the hive after the queen excluder is removed
until all bees have left the hive and treat. many of the bees will allready
be out the entrance anyway.

I plan to write about my trials .

One very important use we have found has been in using SOE to drop varroa
load on hives in honey production instead of pulling supers and treating.

We have tried several methods    All with success in what we were trying to
accomplish..

Aaron asks:
 In my ignorance I am not sure if the manufactures of Bee Go and Honey
Robber participate on BEE-L.

I doubt the makers will respond as they are very secretive about their
products. My own opinion is the products can be used without problem with
common sense but as Jim points out beekeepers tend to keep pouring those
products on in colder temp use and ends up getting in honey. I have walked
in many a beekeepers honey house days after the honey was pulled and still
smell the acid.

When the correct amount is used you will (in my opinion) smell a slight
smell the evening after the supers are brought in but the smell is gone the
next day.

I would prefer to use Bee Quick and am working with Jim to get the system
down . Quite a bit of Bee Quick has been sold by bee supply houses *without*
giving the buyer the information sheet which has been a on going problem.

We use bee blowers in cooler weather rather than risk getting acid
contamination in the honey.

Sincerely,
Bob Harrison

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